Likes of Aketi come once in a Century – Soyinka, Yakassai, Civil Societies
At ongoing Loyola College Old Students’ Association Day of Tributes for late former Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN (Aketi) holding inside Alumi Hall, that is named after the deceased Governor, Loyola College, Old Ife Road, Ibadan, Oyo State.
I am here as Executive President, Bola Ige Centre for Justice, and National Coordinator, Coalition of Pro – Democracy Groups for A Better Nigeria, representing Alhaji Yanko Yakassai, founding father of Arewa Consultative Forum and Elderstateman (North)
and Prof Wole Soyinka, African first Nobel Laurette in Literature (South)
Likes of Aketi come once in a Century – Soyinka, Yakassai, Civil Societies
On behalf of these 2 Elderstatemen and Nigerian Heroes of Democracy in Nigeria, I sympathised with the breaved family led by deceased’s younger Brother, Kolawole Oluwapelumi, who is a carbon copy of his late Brother; the Organiser, Loyola College Ibadan Old Boys Association (LOCOBA) led by Prof J. Olufemi Ogunbiyi, President, LOCOBA Worldwide, Dr BGK Ajayi DFMC, Chairman, BOT, LOCOBA; Barrister Ibrahim Olatoye Lawal Esq, Head of Rotimi Akeredolu SAN and Akin Olujinmi Chambers; AKinyemi Olujinmi, Son of Aketi’s legal Partner who doubles as former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Federation, Mr Akin Olujinmi, as well as all invited Guests and the Students of Loyola College, Ibadan, who were in attendance.
I recalled vividly how this late Hero struggled to become former Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of Ondo State, National President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and brain behind the creation of Southwest States’ Security Corps (Amotekun) as Chairman, Southwest Governors’ Forum.
He was a man of many paths, bold, intelligent and religious and one can not forget but appreciate the bold steps he took immediately after Aglican Church, Owo, members, were attacked during the service by unknown gunmen
The same way he stood up during the killing of Mrs Olufunke Olakunrin, Daughter of Chief Reuben Fasoranti, Leader of Afenifere, by unknown gunmen, along Isagamu/Ore Road, and he led us, Senator Ayo Fasanmi’s Afenifere from his to Chief Reuben Fasoranti in 2019.
During his interaction with us in his Office before taking off to the deceased’s House, he did call attention of our Secretary, Hon Bayo Aina, to where I sat down saying “last man but not the least, our own Comrade Awa Bamiji”, and Secretary apologised first before taking it up from him and doing proper introduction of my position in Afenifere
I was part and parcel of his success story as Junior Comrade and through my participation in the 2012 Gubernatorial Campaign AC mega Rally in Akure Township Stadium, alongside Comrade Sola Iji, Chairman, Organising Commitee, which attracted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governors and the Party’s Natį»onal Leaders, by being beside the MC on the pondium thoroughout supplying the names of who is who in attendance, I did something similar while sitting down beside Senator Ayo Fasanmi and his Wife in Ado – Ekiti Stadium in 2010 during the swearing in ceremony of Governor Kayode Fayemi (JKF) of Ekiti State, 2nd he won at Appeal Tribunal.
He frowned at my late arrival in his House in Owo from Lagos State, out of anxiety of electioneering Campaign considering my mobilisation capacity without asking for what I went through before getting to Owo that day but I understood the situation, apologised and swung to action immediately as “Arogunmatidi”, “Warrior”.
Likes of Aketi come once in a Century. Therefore, it will be a disservice not to immortalise him, even starting from home base with little little efforts we deem fit as individuals in this direction, whether we gain Government attention or not. I am talking from experience as Executive President, Bola Ige Centre for Justice, “Ojo a ba ku ni a n d’ere”, “death attracts attention but few years after People try to forget you ever lived’, this is the main challenge before all of us.
Thank you all for your rapt attention.
Comrade Awa Bamiji, on behalf of Prof Wole Soyinka and Alhaji Tanko Yakassai
Ogbeni!- Mr Sama Dafe Urhobo of Late Captain Sama Foundation, Lagos State
Kudos. Weldon Brother. Stay Strong! Comrade OMOTAJE OLAWALE SAINT former Coordinator, Zone D NANS, and member, Students’ Union Government, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile – Ife, Osun State
š – Sola Omolola Justice, former Student Unionist, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile – Ife, Osun State, and June 12 Advocate
š – Ayo, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, Monatan Branch, Owo Road, Ibadan
Great job – Joel Adedeji, Aide to Late Afenifere Leader, Senator Ayo Fasanmi
š Comrade Asu Mfam, former youth Leader, Action Congress (AC), Cross River State, and Publicity Secretary, Coalition of Pro – Democracy Groups for A Better Nigeria
Hummmmmmm, May the Soul of our amiable former Governor Oluwatotimi Akeredolu rest peacefully Amen š -Prince Adeniyi Babajide Olagunju, former Bursar, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso, and Prince of Otan – Ayegbaju Osun State.
May he’s Souls rest in peace āļø – Engineer Lawrence Kolawole, Erin Osun, Irepodun Local Government, Osun State
Kudos to you my Brother. Eyin won yio Dara, odun a jina loruko Jesu š, Weldon – Princess Adebola Saibana Oguntade, Afenifere, Osun State
May his soul continue to rest in the bossom of the Lord – Chief Barr Okonkwo Oliver Interim State Youth Leader APC, Anambra State. Lead Partner Okonkwo, Mokwe & Partners
.
š – Otunba Rotimi Paseda, 2 time Gubernatorial Candidate, Ogun State
May his soul continue to rest in peace – Alfa Ayodele Hassan, Protocol Officer to Prof Sabitu Olagoke, JP, Leader, Shafaudeen Islamic Center Worldwide, Shafaudeen Headquarters, Wakajaiye, Iyana Church, Ibadan, Oyo State
Ogbeni!- Mr Sama Dafe Urhobo of Late Captain Sama Foundation, Lagos State
Kudos. Weldon Brother. Stay Strong! Comrade OMOTAJE OLAWALE SAINT former Coordinator, Zone D NANS, and member, Students’ Union Government, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile – Ife, Osun State
š – Sola Omolola Justice, former Student Unionist, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile – Ife, Osun State, and June 12 Advocate
š – Ayo, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, Monatan Branch, Owo Road, Ibadan
Great job – Joel Adedeji, Aide to Late Afenifere Leader, Senator Ayo Fasanmi
š Comrade Asu Mfam, former youth Leader, Action Congress (AC), Cross River State, and Publicity Secretary, Coalition of Pro – Democracy Groups for A Better Nigeria
Hummmmmmm, May the Soul of our amiable former Governor Oluwatotimi Akeredolu rest peacefully Amen š -Prince Adeniyi Babajide Olagunju, former Bursar, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso, and Prince of Otan – Ayegbaju Osun State.
May he’s Souls rest in peace āļø -Airtel Compay Satallite Servicing Engineer, Osun State
Kudos to you my Brother. Eyin won yio Dara, odun a jina loruko Jesu š, Weldon – Princess Adebola Saibana Oguntade, Afenifere, Osun State
